Exerciser and leg rest



July 7, 1953 F. ROBERGE EXERCISER AND LEG REST Filed May 27, 1943 f p. I.

8 H. a M

TTO'RNEY Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE vEXERQISER AND LEG REST Philip'ERoberge, Wethersfield, Conn. ApplicationMay-Zl, 1949,5er-iaLNo. 95,672

. Claims. 11

The invention relates to an exerciser and leg rest adapted for use ,by patients. having certain .leg disorders such as those resulting from diabetic or arterio-sclerotic tendencies or .such as those resulting from varicose veins.

In the treatment of patients such .as those above-mentioned, it is recognized practice to elevate the .legs of the patient to a substantial extent so that stagnant blood will flow therefrom, this stagnant blood being replaced by fresh blood when the legs are lowered. This procedure is ordinarily followed with the patient .in bed, a frame or board being :usually provided which rests on. the bed for supporting the patients legs in the elevated position. The raising of the legs with the patient in prone positions .causes a rush of blood to the head, this tending to exhaust the patient and :being otherwise'detrimental.

In accordance with the inventionlprovidean exerciser and "leg rest "which can be placed on the floor and which can be :used by a patient comfortably seated in a chair. This makes it possible for "the legs to be substantially raised without being raised above the :level .of the patients head. The exerciser and leg ;rest has groups :of leg supports so arranged that the legs of :the vpatient .can :be supported at various selected elevations .and :further so arranged that the patient can conveniently move his legs to .or from the selected positions through a series .of successive stages. :By reason of the provision for successive stages 'cfrmovement, the patient is able .to readily movehis legs to .and from positions that he could not otherwise attain. Furthermore, the patient in ,soimoving .his legs exercises them in a manner producing favorable results.

The invention further relates to various details "of structure whereby the foregoing -more general purposes 'are simply and economically attained.

In the drawing I'have shown *in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it "will be understood that various changes may be .made from the construction. shown, .and that the drawing is .not .to be construed .as defining or Fig. 21s a Iront view of the exerciser and leg rest.

limiting the scope :of the invention, the claims forming .a part .of .this specification .being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Rig. :1 .is--:a perspective 'view illustrating the manner of of :-an exerciser and .leg :rest sen bodying the invention.

Fig. '3 isaside .view.

Fig. 4is .an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line .4- .l of .Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, the exerciser and leg rest includes a frameadapted to restlon a floor. The frame preferably-.comprisesan upright portion vI 0 which includes two horizontally and transversely spaced llpright bars 12 and 14. An unobstructed space isprovided atleast atone. side of the upright frame portion 10, that is, .at the. side toward the \user which will be designated as the front side. Preferably and as shown, 11.nobstructed. spaces are provided at both sides 9f the upright frame portion ill, thatis, at the front and rearsides thereof. The upright bars [2 and M are preferably ri idly connected at their .respective lower ends with two transversely Spaced longitudinally extending horizontal'fioor engaging bars l6 .and 18.. .An unobstructed space is preferably Provided between the floor engaging bars l6 and t8 at least at the unobstructed side of the frame portion 10,4313; is, at the front side thereof.

While the invention is not necessarily so .limited, the two upright bars [2 and .14 may c.011- veniently ,be parts of a structure in the form of an inverted U this structure having ,a portion or bar .20 connecting the upper ends of the two unright bars -I 2 and J4. .In order that the weight may be at a minimum the bars of the U-shaped structure and Jloor engaging bars -may be tubular, ,andthey-areso shown- Carried by the frjameportion .l flare .twogronps of vertically spaced transversely extending substantially horizontal leg supports. The number of supportsmaybe varied butes illustrated there are three supports in' each group, the supports being arran ed in pairs. .Ihe supports are .respectively designated 22, 2'4, 26, 28, .30 and 3.2. The several leg supports .are carried 1 by and 7 project from the uprightportion of theframe and they are oppositely disposed with respect to .a

. longitudinal vertical plane through the upright portion of the frame, the said plane being inclicatedat a-u in Fig.2. .Each legsuppcrtis relatively short and .has .an unobstructed space :beyond and immediately adjacent its projecting end. The supports .in .the respective groups -;and in .the respective pairs preferably extend toward each other with the innerendsof the supports in the respective groups and pairs spaced :horizontally from each other so as to provide anun obstructed space between them. Preferably and as shown, the several supports in the respective groups and in the respective pairs have the same lengths and are at the same levels and are in alignment with each other.

When the frame includes upright bars such as l2 and I4 the supports in the two groups are carried respectively by the two upright bars. Each support is connected at its outer end with the corresponding upright bar and extends inwardly therefrom. Preferably a horizontal cross bar 34 extends between the upright bars [2 and I4 being positioned below the lowermost supports 22 and 24.

creased strength and it may also serve as an additional leg support. The spacing between the cross bar 34 and the supports 22 and 24 may be the same as that between each two superposed supports.

Preferably, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, each leg support in the two said groups comprises a core 38 of metal or other rigid material and a cushion 38 of soft resilient material, such as sponge rubber. The outer end portion of each core 36 extends into and through an aperture in the corresponding upright bar I2 or l4, being held in place by riveting or otherwise. Each cushion 38 has at least a portion thereof above or at the upper side of the corresponding core 36. As shown, the cushion entirely surrounds the core, and has a portion at the inner end which covers the inner end of the core. A cushion 40 similar to the cushions 38 may extend throughout the entire length of the cross bar 34.

Preferably the leg supports in the two groups, instead of being located in a vertical plane, are located approximately on arcs extending in longitudinal planes perpendicular to the supports. This facilitates the use of the supports by the patient aswill be explained in detail. When the supports are carried by upright bars such as l2 and I4, the said upright bars are curved in 1ongitudinal planes perpendicular to the direction of transverse spacing between them, that is, in planes perpendicular to the supports in the two groups.

The relative positions of the several leg supports will be more clearly understood by defining their relationship with respect to an arbitrarily selected vertical transverse reference plane such as bb which is indicated in Fig. 3. The plane bb is at the unobstructed side of the frame portion IB,'that is, at the front side thereof. Each support of each group below the uppermost support of the said group is spaced from the reference plane bb by a distance substantially greaterthan the distance of the next higher support from the said reference plane. The center lines of the uppermost supports 30 and 32 are at a distance from the reference plane bb, the center lines of the next lower supports 26 and 28 are at a greater distance d from the reference plane b-b, and the center lines of the next lower supports 22 and 24 are at a still greater distance e from the reference plane bb. Preferably the center lines of the supports in each group are located substantially in a circular are having its center at the unobstructed side of the frame. When a cross bar such as 34 is provided, its center line is at a distance from the said reference plane b-b which is at least as great as the distance e of the center lines of the lower supports 22 and 24 from the said re er c plane.

The cross bar provides mechanical connection between the upright barsto give in- In order that the exerciser and leg rest may be more conveniently shipped and stored, the several parts thereof are by preference detachably connected with each other. The details of detachable connection may be widely varied, but one suitable construction is illustrated.

Each of the floor engaging bars l6 and It has an upwardly extending tubular member d2 secured thereto by welding or otherwise. Each of the upright bars l2 and I4 has a. plug 44 secured in place in the lower end thereof, and this plug fits into the upper end of the corresponding member 42. Set screws 43 hold the plugs 44 in place in the members 42. The upright bars [2 and I4 are thus connected with the" bars I6 and 18,- but are readily detachable when the set screws 46 are loosened.

The inverted U-shaped structure, which in-- cludes the tubular upright bars 52 and. i4 and the connecting portionor bar 20, is preferably formed in three parts detachably connected with each other at the tops of the uprights. As shown,

each end of the bar 29 has a plug 48 securedin place ends'of the upright bars. plugs in place in the uprights. thus connected with are engaged by nuts 52 which detachably hold the cross bar in place. Ifdesired there may be a plurality of pairs of holes 54, 54 in the upright bars so that the-cross bar 34 may be located at different elevations.

'With the exerciser and for'shipping or storage it comprises six units which are: the two upright bars 12 and M with the supports carried thereby, the two floor engaging bars [6 and IB with the attached members 42, the connecting bar 20 and the cross bar 34 with its nuts 52.

* In use the exerciser and the floor in proper relationship to the chair or other seat occupied by the patient. The unobstructed front side faces the chair. The patient can place his legs on any of the several supports that may be selected, his legs being moved upward, one at a time,through the unobstructed spaces between the supports. Preferably, the backs of the patients ankles or heels engage the supports, the cushions of the supports serving to distribute the pressure and to avoid any discordfort. l 1

The patients legs move about a transverse axis approximately at his hip joints,- and it will be clear that, if the several supports were in a vertical plane, the several supports would engage the patients legs at different positions. In or: der that the several supports may engage the patients legs at approximately the same positions,

that is, at the ankles or heels, the supports are located on arcs or at different distances from the reference plane 19-! as already described.

As shown in Fig. 1, the legs'of the patient are atthesame level-on the pair of supports 26 and '28, but they may be at different levels on selected supports-at different levels. Evenwhen the pa tients legs are on the uppermost supports '39 and 32, they are at a level no higher than the patients head.

" It is unnecessary for the patient to raise his legs by'single movements-to the se1ectedsuri therein and these plugs fit into the upper Set screws 58 hold the The 'bar 28 is the upright bars but is read ily detachable when the set screws are loosened When a cross bar such as 34 is provided,- it has reduced end portions which extend through pairs of opposite holes in the upright bars 12 and 14}.- The said reduced end portions are threaded and leg rest disassembled leg rest is placed on parts andihacam raise-themoneata timeg tn. the selQQted, supports; by; sucszessivee sta es: Ferrite 3 135, he: patienit may; intial'ly' place his rightv ankle: orheel on; the; cross; bar or support. 3511" as; indicated by dotted lines at; Aandzthemmovesil i successively,- to: the: support:v 24 amindicated. by dotted linesv at B... to the support 28; as: indicated:- bxfull: lines; at 63;, and: toz'the; support; 32{ as: ins dicated, by. dotted; lines. at D5. -'Ilhe; spaces; be. tweenl the: inner: ends: of? the: supports are unh=- structed and are; sufficiently; wide. to; freeh p. 12-- mit, movement as described. The cushions 38 ext'endover the-ends of" the cores 36 of the supports, thus preventing any bruises or abrasions suchiaszmig-ht result from contact ofthe-patients ankles withtherig d cores- The left leg may'be similarly raised by successive; stages. In practice, it; is ordinarily pref erable. for: the patient, to; raise; both lega to one levelzbeforeimoving. either leg tcrthe next'; higher level: The; patientmay. rest; tmwhateven extent may be necessary or desirable between successive movements. By a reversal of the described stages, the patient may lower his legs as desired.

The unobstructed space between the front portions of the bars l6 and I8 avoids any interference with the chair and enables the patients feet to freely engage the floor prior to and following the use of the apparatus.

The patient can repeatedly move his legs upward and downward by successive stages to and from selected elevated positions, as instructed by his doctor. His legs can be maintained at the highest selected elevation or at intermediate elevations for various periods of time as may be prescribed. The successive positioning of the patient's legs at higher and lower elevations improves circulatory conditions as described, and furthermore the upward and. downward movements provide beneficial muscular exercise.

'I'hetreatment of a patient as described, using an exerciser and leg rest embodying the invention, has many advantages over the before-mentioned conventional treatment. This conventional treatment usually involves the well-known Buergers exercise and board and this can be used only with the patient on a bed or couch. While there are objections to the raising and lowering of the legs with the patient in prone position, another serious disadvantage is the ability or disin-clination of the patient to follow a treatment which involves the use of a bed or couch. Frequently no bed or couch is available in or near the living room and the patient is unwilling or perhaps unable to move to a bedroom which may be on another floor. Furthermore, the stand or board must be placed on the bed and removed therefrom, thus involving considerable trouble and effort.

The exerciser and leg rest embodying the present invention can be used wherever a chair or other convenient seat is available, and by reason of the fact that it stands on the floor it can be readily moved to and from the required position without any lifting. It can be kept in the living room and used frequently as prescribed.

It will be understood that masculine pronouns are used herein in a generic sense and not in a restrictive sense.

What I claim is:

1. An exerciser and leg rest comprising in combination, a frame including a generally upright portion with an unobstructed space at one transversely extending side thereof which frame portion comprises two transversely spaced upright 6f are. thesaid: including twoeitrans versely] spacedi longitudinally: extending horizon;

obstructed side of the upright: portion, and two groups of vertically spaced transversely extending substantially horizontal leg supports carried: bv'and projectingfrom the respective hereof the saidupright portion of the frame; the supports of thetwo: roups? projecting in opposite direc'-' tions and toward each other-with ,unobstructeol paces lc'mtlweenv their projecting ends and each; upport of" each group below the: uppermost" support off the said; group-being; spaced from an vertiacai transverse: reference plane: at: the. unobstructedi' side of the uprightportion: of the; frame: by a. distance substantially greater than. the distance of? the next higher support: from: the said reference'planez.

2. An exerciser and leg rest as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upright bars are detachably connected with each other and are detachably connected respectively with the said floor engaging bars.

3. An exerciser and leg rest comprising in combination, a frame including a generally upright portion with an unobstructed space at one transversely extending side thereof which frame portion comprises two transversely spaced upright bars, the said frame also including two trans versely spaced longitudinally extending horizontal floor engaging bars to which the respective upright bars are rigidly connected at their lower ends which floor engaging bars have an unobstructed space between them at the aforesaid unobstructed side of the upright portion, two groups of vertically spaced transversely extending substantially horizontal leg supports carried by and projecting from the respective bars of the said upright portion of the frame, the supports of the two groups projecting in opposite directions and toward each other with unobstructed spaces between their projecting ends and each support of each group below the uppermost support of the said group being spaced from a vertical transverse reference plane at the unobstructed. side of the upright portion of the frame by a distance substantially greater than the distance of the next higher support from the said reference plane, and a horizontal transverse cross bar connecting the said upright bars below the lowermost leg supports in the two groups and above the floor engaging bars and providing an additional leg support, the said cross bar being spaced from the said vertical reference plane by a distance atleast as great as the distances of the lowermost leg supports in the. two groups from the said plane.

4. An exerciser and leg rest comprising in combination, a frame including a base having transversely spaced floor engaging portions in a common horizontal plane and also including a generally upright portion consistingof an inverted U in fixed relationship with the base and having a completely unobstructed space at one transversely extending side thereof so that a patient may be positioned therein and between said spaced floor engaging portions, which upright portion has two transversely spaced upright bars, two groups of vertically spaced transversely extending substantially horizontal leg supports carried by and projecting from the respective bars of the said upright portion of the frame, the

supports of the two 'groups' projecting in opposite directions and toward each other a distance to provide therebetween unobstructed spaces between their projecting ends of suflicient magnitude to enable the legs of the patient to pass therethrough, and each support of each groupbelow the uppermost support of the said group being spaced from a vertical transverse reference plane at the unobstructed side of the upright portion of the frame by a distance substantially greater than the distance of the next higher sup-- port from the said reference plane, and a horizontal transverse cross bar connecting the said upright bars below the lowermost leg supports in the two groups and'providing an additional leg support, the said cross-bar being spaced from the said vertical reference plane by a distance at least as great as the distances of the lowermost leg supports in the two groups from the said plane, said upright bars being bent inlongitudinal planes perpendicular to said floor engaging PHILIP F. ROBER'GE'.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Date Number Name 1,580,744 Lyon et a1. ;r Apr. 13,1926 1,598,727 Jones Sept; '7, 1926 2,385,559 Wenthe Sept. 25, 1945' 

